r/nextfuckinglevel Aug 03 '24

Park ranger uses a shotgun to separate and save two bucks who had their antlers locked

[deleted]

29.0k Upvotes

840 comments sorted by

7.8k

u/Chonky_Candy Aug 03 '24

Why didnt the US send this guy to the Olympics?

4.5k

u/el_americano Aug 03 '24

This guy has a job.  Can you imagine how many bucks would be antler locked if he took time off to compete in the Olympics?  

941

u/CatticusXIII Aug 03 '24

No one was more surprised that worked than the guy pulling the trigger. Like he was definitely trying to save both, but he seemed genuinely shocked they both ran off absolutely fine.

545

u/[deleted] Aug 03 '24

Absolutely, he's happily amazed that his idea worked. He deserves it though, his trigger discipline and patience is the reason it worked. Extra nod for the harsh conditions. Dude is good.

131

u/Rahim-Moore Aug 03 '24

Something tells me the idea was thought of, and this guy was chosen because he was the best shot, not because he was the most confident it would work.

38

u/[deleted] Aug 03 '24

Aw, don't ruin my fantasy. You're right, of course.

20

u/Rahim-Moore Aug 03 '24

The only thing that led me to that conclusion is the fact that he's completely shocked he didn't mortally wound both animals. 😂

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140

u/BizzarduousTask Aug 03 '24

So sad he passed up Olympic glory for a few bucks.

19

u/Low-Conference-7791 Aug 03 '24

Some might say he's a loonie for doing so...

10

u/SeedsOfDoubt Aug 03 '24

That shot was at least worth a toonie

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206

u/Merry_Dankmas Aug 03 '24

Buckshot Canadian and Turkish Dad need to compete against each other. Their duel will be that of legend.

32

u/snakeoilHero Aug 03 '24

The meme Olympics live on forever.

11

u/Corporation_tshirt Aug 03 '24 edited Aug 04 '24

You think he used buckshot? I would think that would scatter too much to be safe. Wouldn’t a slug have been safer? Maybe buckshot doesn’t scatter as much from close range and if they get hit with any it’ll just sting like a fucker for a few days

21

u/phaesios Aug 03 '24

I’m definitely thinking slug here. Buckshot would’ve maimed at least one of the bucks. OTOH, you don’t see how they actually feel after this short clip. One might have half a face?

Ah, another comment below posted this. Slug confirmed.

4

u/drunkentrouble Aug 04 '24

It's 100% a slug. Source: I'm a range officer

3

u/uwntsumfuq Aug 04 '24

At 30ft its at a ft spread, give or take, without a choke

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3

u/Equal-Negotiation651 Aug 03 '24

Would suck to have a stock of stuck bucks.

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503

u/Super-Candy-5682 Aug 03 '24

Because he's Canadian

192

u/Chonky_Candy Aug 03 '24

Oh, so he would be too polite and let others win gotcha

193

u/Super-Candy-5682 Aug 03 '24

Camera didn't pick it up, but he did ask the deer to please hold still.

11

u/rayofgoddamnsunshine Aug 03 '24

And then he apologized to them afterward.

28

u/simion_baws Aug 03 '24

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

7

u/Johnoplata Aug 03 '24

Please hold still, eh? *ftfy

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51

u/nrith Aug 03 '24

Do you have any idea how many bucks it would cost to supply targets for this guy?

25

u/Turbulent_Ad1667 Aug 03 '24

It would likely cost a lot of bucks.

8

u/snuffy_tentpeg Aug 03 '24

Loonies and Toonies

11

u/Chonky_Candy Aug 03 '24

And the logistical horror of getting them stuck together in pairs

25

u/whatshisname3 Aug 03 '24

I'd bet this guy is Canadian judging by the tundra and wholesome/Canadian response from the guy filming

26

u/thegrumpymechanic Aug 03 '24

You check the results for Shooting Skeet yet?

11

u/Geralt31 Aug 03 '24 edited Aug 03 '24

Lemme guess, Hancock won ?

Edit: Holy shit the US got gold AND silver, GGs

4

u/Kanin_usagi Aug 03 '24

Lmao skeet is the one I had no doubts about

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19

u/PLZ_N_THKS Aug 03 '24

The US just got gold and silver in the shotgun event…

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4

u/RiggityRiggityReckt Aug 03 '24

Because he's Canadian lol

5

u/r1vals Aug 03 '24

Sounds Canadian to me

6

u/metartur Aug 03 '24

Because he's Canadian.

7

u/ClownfishSoup Aug 03 '24

Because he’s Canadian?

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1.6k

u/Azuras_Star8 Aug 03 '24

Two gay deer come out of a gay deer bar.

One deer says to the other, "I can't believe I blew 50 bucks in there."

159

u/DBU49 Aug 03 '24

Telling this one tonight.

29

u/Timsmomshardsalami Aug 03 '24

God damnit, same

13

u/[deleted] Aug 03 '24

What’s the difference between beer nuts and deer nuts? Beer nuts are $1.50, deer nuts are under a buck.

24

u/I_Wont_Get_Upvotes Aug 03 '24

Is that deer Grant Anthony O'Brien or something?

5

u/Theorex Aug 03 '24

....fifty?!

13

u/pipkinsoup Aug 03 '24

"... That can't be right."

3

u/BizzarduousTask Aug 03 '24

Goddammit, I JUST saw that episode yesterday!!!

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2.0k

u/Frondhelm Aug 03 '24

Did he use buck shot?

864

u/hedronist Aug 03 '24

Larger than that. FTA: he took out a shotgun loaded with slugs.

So, Big Badda Boom!

256

u/Fusciee Aug 03 '24

Wow! What a shot from that angle! No idea how he didn’t kill at least one of them

454

u/LiberalPatriot13 Aug 03 '24

Well, slugs help in that regard since it's just a single projectile. A lot easier to maim or kill with buckshot.

145

u/throwawayaccyaboi223 Aug 03 '24

Yes and no, at that range buckshot will probably only spread to around the size of a baseball. Still a larger margin for error, but not massively.

156

u/SasparillaTango Aug 03 '24

are you telling me video games lied to me? that 6 inches out the barrel it doesn't spread out like 3 yards wide? Next you're gonna tell me Golden Retrievers can't play basketball!

46

u/SteveLouise Aug 03 '24

Oh no... look, why don't you sit down?

44

u/[deleted] Aug 03 '24

There’s nothing in the rules that say a dog can’t play basketball!

12

u/Ok-Lifeguard-4614 Aug 03 '24

This never fails to bring a smile to my face.

11

u/arie700 Aug 03 '24

Unlike halo, real shotguns can actually attack outside melee range

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6

u/huskypotato69 Aug 03 '24

Video game shotguns are so stupid for this reason. If shotguns were realistic in video games they'd be the only guns I'd use.

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5

u/TherronKeen Aug 03 '24

Don't forgot the golden rule - real life shotgun projectiles don't magically disappear 6 feet past the barrel, either!

that one always bothered me the most lol

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9

u/Fusciee Aug 03 '24

Still very impressive

34

u/ReddittingReddit Aug 03 '24

Even more impressive imo. It would be "easier" to hit the antlers with buckshot since the pellets scatter. He hit that shot with irons and a slug at close range without harming the deer. Hats off to that ranger!

10

u/chubbyhighguy Aug 03 '24

The shots would more likely ricochet off the antlers and hit a deer, that and the scatter would also hit the deer as well, so no a slug would be better, it's heavier and slower but he's close enough I doesn't matter, and easer to control than shot pellets that don't have a pre-determined point of impact, at least with the slug it's just the one object.

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34

u/ScapeZero Aug 03 '24

Shotguns don't work like they do in movies and games. The spread stays tight, for pretty much the entirety of its effective range. 

Also a slug shot is basically just a big chunk of metal about the size of your thumb. It's a big bullet, not multiple round balls.

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7

u/Quirky_m8 Aug 03 '24

Slugs are just a single metal projectile. Buckshot would have multiple projectiles. And likely would have killed the bucks

7

u/ipodplayer777 Aug 03 '24

According to Reddit, a bullet flying that close to their ears should’ve ripped their head clean off

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22

u/Khaztr Aug 03 '24

woosh

8

u/Neutral_Guy_9 Aug 03 '24

It went over my head too I was like OF COURSE NOT YOU FOOL then went ohhhhh

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49

u/RINGxOFxFIRE Aug 03 '24

No, he must have used doe shot since both the bucks lived.

3

u/akoust1c Aug 03 '24

FUNNY GUY

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3

u/Piesangbom Aug 03 '24

Why is no one getting the pun…

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245

u/b_sketchy Aug 03 '24

Missed both of them. Worst hunter ever.

26

u/MMAchineCode Aug 03 '24

We know why he wasn't on the Olympic team

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83

u/WingleDingleFingle Aug 03 '24

My friend is a cop who goes to shooting competitions against other cops from across the country. He said the park rangers win every individual and team contest every year. They have the best gear and use their guns the most on the job.

26

u/[deleted] Aug 03 '24

[deleted]

6

u/tankerkiller125real Aug 03 '24

Hunting outside work, putting down animals with severe injuries in the wild, coming face to face with armed hunters, etc. wardens and rangers absolutely use their weapons a LOT more than the average cop.

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80

u/v13ragnarok7 Aug 03 '24

Worth the risk. Not uncommon to find 2 deer skeletons stuck like this.

137

u/Flypike87 Aug 03 '24

I'm betting they need some Ibuprofen after that brain rattle!

74

u/Packof6ix Aug 03 '24

Compared to the force they use to strike each other with them.....pretty sure they're good lol

33

u/Flypike87 Aug 03 '24

I know, I was just funnin'.

One of the ladies in our deer camp shot a deer in the antler about 20 years ago. That thing was knocked out cold. After a couple of minutes it jumped up and scrambled away like it had been drinking all night. Saw it a few days later and it was fine. That was pretty neat.

22

u/Merry_Dankmas Aug 03 '24

Deer are monumentally stupid animals. I wonder if they don't get brain injuries because their skulls are that strong or because there isn't enough brain to damage. Nature works in mysterious ways.

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608

u/tino_smo Aug 03 '24

lol not only saved there lives but ended the fight lol

141

u/filter_86d Aug 03 '24

Was no longer a fight.

113

u/Rexcess Aug 03 '24

Everybody involved became very suddenly aware of who had the biggest antler in the room.

9

u/BookieeWookiee Aug 03 '24

So the ranger gets all the cows now right?

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16

u/steelmanfallacy Aug 03 '24

It was a fight for their lives at that point.

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20

u/ipsum629 Aug 03 '24

after hearing probably the loudest sound they'll hear in their entire lives I don't think they were concerned with fighting each other anymore.

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98

u/dirkdiggler2011 Aug 03 '24

He keeps checking back and forth to ensure he did not actually hit one and it then drops after it runs off 200 yards.

252

u/Pelli_Furry_Account Aug 03 '24

Does a shotgun not scatter its fire? I thought it was like a cone of shrapnel.

508

u/Dangerous_Ad_6831 Aug 03 '24

Someone else linked an article saying he used a slug which is a single chunk.

58

u/ConnectRutabaga3925 Aug 03 '24

was wondering the same. thanks for this info

47

u/Gino-Bartali Aug 03 '24 edited Aug 03 '24

Buckshot or birdshot for that matter don't really spread as much as you think they do.

Many people's expectations of shotguns come from video games, and for the sake of good gameplay or balance, they usually have an insane spread in an incredibly short distance, and then are as lethal as confetti from more than 10 feet away. Shotguns in real life behave very differently. Game devs usually just find that whenever they make things realistic, nobody would ever use anything except a shotgun because it's range of ~40 yards is pretty much most of the video game experience, and the 600 yard range of an AR-15 just rarely ever happens.

Hollywood also behaves similarly, such as in Django Unchained when the incredibly close Dr Schultz and the wall behind him are completely covered in shot.

7

u/CopeHarders Aug 04 '24

an insane spread

Dude’s just like… “You need a shotgun. You need a shotgun, man. It’s got a good spread. It’s easy to load, doesn’t have a lot of working parts. Got a good spread.” He kept saying that. “It’s got a good spread.” I’m like, “What does that mean?” He goes, “Well, that means you ain’t gotta be that accurate. It’s got a good spread. Further away you are, the more shit you hit. It’s got a good spread. In fact, you got a problem over here, you ain’t even gotta look. You just turn… pow! That’s it. You ain’t got a problem over here anymore

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6

u/Kushnerdz Aug 03 '24

“Single chunk” lmao

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5

u/liquidwood1 Aug 03 '24

Even if it was buckshot it would have barely spread at that distance

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17

u/jerbearman10101 Aug 03 '24

He used a slug but I also just want to mention that at this distance with buck shot the spread wouldn’t be very significant at all. Definitely not a cone large enough to hit the deer, probably just 1-2 inches of spread. Video games get that wrong

23

u/theSPYDERDUDE Aug 03 '24

Yes, but also not as much as people think. This was likely a slug, which is basically a chunk of metal in a shotgun shell, but even the spread on buckshot isn’t really that much, bird shot has a bigger spread than buckshot, but wouldn’t have the power required to get the antler to break and the spread at that distance wouldn’t be much at all. The whole “give you’re wife a shotgun so she doesn’t have to aim” is more of a myth than an actual thing, even with a shorter barrel, spread doesn’t change that drastically, here’s a video by one of my favorite gun YouTubers on that exact subject.

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u/completeenvoy Aug 03 '24 edited Aug 03 '24

The spread of buckshot is dependent on the choke used for the shotgun and it’s barrel length. A good rule of thumb is an inch of spread for every yard away the target is unless you have a very short barrel shotgun.

The spread of buckshot is severely over exaggerated by films and video games.

21

u/ssbm_rando Aug 03 '24

You're not wrong but also there's an article confirming he used a slug

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6

u/RustyShkleford Aug 03 '24

Shotguns can fire multiple types of ammo. Bird shot is tiny pellets, buck shot are large pellets, and slugs are a single large bullet.

5

u/StreetSmartsGaming Aug 03 '24

It had to be a slug or this wouldn't work.

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25

u/KiLLaKRaGGy Aug 03 '24

Does he get to mate with all the does in that area now?

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63

u/CBA_Warrior Aug 03 '24

That's a really impressive shot but the cynical side of me says he was prepared to sacrifice one of them to get the shot

121

u/Remote_Horror_Novel Aug 03 '24

Still the better outcome than doing nothing if one survives because I think they’re both doomed in this situation.

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20

u/hallstevenson Aug 03 '24

If no one did anything, they'd both die.

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7

u/A7xWicked Aug 03 '24

I mean, you hit your shot and you save the deer. Miss and you got dinner

🤷‍♂️

5

u/Attila_the_Chungus Aug 04 '24 edited Aug 04 '24

Alberta fish and wildlife officers like the one in the video donate animals/meat to the needy whenever possible. They might call someone in the community to dress it out and take it home or they might field dress it themselves and put it in their freezer until they find someone to give it to.

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3

u/Unlucky-Situation-98 Aug 03 '24

"Moneypenny, take the shot!"

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7

u/Deckard2022 Aug 03 '24

That guys a fucking surgeon with a shot gun. Amazing shot

8

u/User_unavail_able Aug 03 '24

Why couldn’t they tranq them and detangle them instead of blowing their antlers off? Lol

3

u/flargenhargen Aug 04 '24

they rarely talk about this, but when they tranq animals, the death rate is shockingly high.

far from safe for the animals.

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6

u/ivanparas Aug 03 '24

Dude brought a gun to an antler fight

15

u/Novel-Suggestion-515 Aug 03 '24

Southern Alberta RCMP if I remember right.

14

u/[deleted] Aug 03 '24

[deleted]

3

u/Mad-Mel Aug 03 '24

Which is called a Conservation Officer in Alberta (where this is, but even the CBC article called him a fish and wildlife officer).

4

u/[deleted] Aug 03 '24

[deleted]

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4

u/Attila_the_Chungus Aug 04 '24

It's a similar job but they work in different areas. In Alberta, conservation officers work within provincial parks and protected areas. Fish and wildlife officers work almost everywhere else. The man in the video is a fish and wildlife officer.

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3

u/motorcycle_girl Aug 03 '24

Doesn’t look like an RCMP uniform.

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5

u/GroWiza Aug 03 '24 edited Aug 04 '24

You think he used a slug for this? Buck shot he would've hit the Deer as well even with a choke to direct the shot I'd imagine?

Anyone with more Gun exp can you chime in on what kind of round was used for this?

5

u/ImTotallyTechy Aug 03 '24

Even with buckshot/birdshot he was close enough to the target that the cone of projectiles would have likely a touch bigger than a softball so feasibly could have been done without hitting the deer regardless

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3

u/Educational_Key1206 Aug 03 '24

Wow! Amazing shot.

3

u/nadvargas Aug 03 '24

A doe jumps out of some brush onto a walking trail and says, "I"ll never do that for two bucks again "! 

3

u/Hideous4our Aug 03 '24

He could have just switched to Geico instead

4

u/Diskobiscotti Aug 03 '24

Reminds me of that video Of the swat sharpshooter clipping a handgun out of a dudes hand from like 200 m

8

u/Castod28183 Aug 03 '24

That shot gets longer every year. Lol. It was 82 yards.

4

u/Even-Funny-265 Aug 03 '24

It almost looked like they realised what he was gonna do and waited for the shot.

4

u/AnnualWerewolf9804 Aug 03 '24

More likely they were getting tired. Their pauses were getting longer each time.

2

u/WarLawck Aug 03 '24

Those bucks ain't fuckin anytime soon, but I guess it's better than the alternative.

2

u/LightweightProper Aug 03 '24

I wish we could have heard the dialogue between them two

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2

u/goodadadvice Aug 03 '24

Had to be a slug

2

u/NashKetchum777 Aug 03 '24

...I'm keeping those antlers to tell this story anywhere I go

2

u/Imissflawn Aug 03 '24

good shot? I missed both of them!

2

u/Cyrax-Wins Aug 03 '24

Had to be a slug right?

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2

u/SmashingK Aug 03 '24

Looks like he got sweaty palms lol.

I can't blame him. Could have easily killed one if the heads moved.

2

u/Stocktonfever Aug 03 '24

He was so locked in after the shot, locked me in a bit.

2

u/Disastrous_Bus_2447 Aug 03 '24

Hey man, nice shot.

2

u/AdDouble3004 Aug 03 '24

Yeah shit if I did that both deer would be dead….

2

u/sandiegolatte Aug 03 '24

“Good shot” is understatement of the year

2

u/Klutho Aug 03 '24

Seen this half a dozen times. Never gets old

2

u/SnakeyRake Aug 03 '24

Mr Roboto

2

u/Acceptable-Sport1877 Aug 03 '24

He's good 👀👌

2

u/wrbear Aug 03 '24

Honestly, that video looks tasty!

2

u/the_hair_of_aenarion Aug 03 '24

Next time I need minor surgery or a tooth pulled I'm calling this guy.

2

u/stent_kush Aug 03 '24

For the people talking about the Olympics. I realised (after watching multiple shooting and archery games ) , it's not about one short accuracy, it's more about consistency and the pressure it puts on the player who goes round 2 in each turn/set.

2

u/DeMischi Aug 03 '24

I guess he used a slugshot?

2

u/time4tjllen Aug 03 '24

First time I’ve seen guns used like that. Impressive shot, I’d have somehow managed to blow both their heads off if I tried the same shot lol

2

u/beefjerkyha Aug 03 '24

His stance at the end screaming "Just a normal day at the office"

2

u/maroco92 Aug 03 '24

Top 5 best uses of a gun I've ever seen

2

u/zipzzo Aug 03 '24

Wanna see this guy with Chaperone in the Crucible.

2

u/Fuzzy_Muscle Aug 03 '24

What a badass, he knew when to take the shot

2

u/Critical_42 Aug 03 '24

Holy shit. i thought he was gonna sedate the both of them.

2

u/Alternative_Ninja_49 Aug 03 '24

Nice shooting aye

2

u/QuatuorMortisNorth Aug 03 '24

So he used a slug?

2

u/KoreanCardCollector Aug 03 '24

The third buck in the pecking order in shambles

2

u/Donmiggy143 Aug 03 '24

What a shot damn!

2

u/monopoly3448 Aug 03 '24

And if he misses well thats dinner so win win, still badass though.

2

u/GroundbreakingAd8310 Aug 03 '24

Hey I didn't miss...this time

2

u/[deleted] Aug 03 '24

“Just a little off the top.”

My barber:

2

u/Zarvillian Aug 03 '24

Was he putting his hand on the sidearm just in case they charged at em??

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u/Open-Industry-8396 Aug 03 '24

Ridiculously hard shot with a shotgun

2

u/FluidProfile6954 Aug 03 '24

He is well trained shooter, he is poised for the next shot

2

u/sassyquin Aug 03 '24

How?!?!?!

2

u/ImurderREALITY Aug 03 '24

Wow, what a shot!

2

u/One-Papaya-8808 Aug 03 '24

"GuNs SaVe LiVeS"

2

u/Shudnawz Aug 03 '24

Did he use buck shot?

2

u/jcilomliwfgadtm Aug 03 '24

That guy is a great shot

2

u/jDub549 Aug 03 '24

litterally a surgeon with that shotgun.

2

u/CabbageStockExchange Aug 03 '24

Where’s the kaboom? Where’s my earth shattering kaboom?

2

u/coronagrey Aug 03 '24

Good thing they were wearing a bullet proof vest

2

u/isabps Aug 03 '24

Nice shot bro!

2

u/vksdann Aug 03 '24

"Damn, I missed. That's embarassing."
/j

2

u/Misterfahrenheit120 Aug 03 '24

Damn. Teddy Rosevelt level of wilderness badassery

2

u/HallowskulledHorror Aug 03 '24

This is the kind of thing you remember with pride for the rest of your life, what a crazy thing to run into and handle in the course of doing your job.

2

u/TheMathmatix Aug 03 '24

I can watch this video a 100x. And it's still just as satisfying. That being said, kudos to the park ranger who did this. He did it without malice. And an end goal to get them separated.

2

u/vaeell Aug 03 '24

Had to be a slug

2

u/throwawaytrumper Aug 03 '24

The last time I went shooting, a week ago, I fired a slug from a 12 gauge that missed at about 30 yards. Missed big. I would fuck this up.

2

u/brolarbear Aug 03 '24

I always imagine the guy is standing there afterwards like, “Shit I was looking forward to some venison.”

2

u/Littlekite2010 Aug 03 '24

Wow what a shot

2

u/DeadStockWalking Aug 03 '24

Incredible patience waiting for just the right opportunity. Man, great shot.

2

u/a-bser Aug 03 '24

So that's how you solve those interlocking puzzles

2

u/CarlJustCarl Aug 03 '24

Don’t look like no shotgun to me

3

u/JMHSrowing Aug 03 '24

It is clearly a shotgun. We see the ejected shell plus its pump action which is almost exclusive to shotguns

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